Coolant systems for electric and hybrid-electric vehicles
First Claim
1. A method of operating a coolant system for a vehicle having a fuel cell stack and a battery pack, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) detecting a fuel cell stack warm up condition, the warm up condition being when the fuel cell stack is below a predetermined temperature range and is warming up;
(b) if the fuel cell stack warm up condition is detected, activating a pump and a cabin coolant heater upstream from a heater core, which is located in a HVAC module, and directing a coolant flowing through the cabin coolant heater, through the heater core and through a fuel cell stack to thereby warm the fuel cell stack;
(c) if the fuel cell stack warm up condition is detected, adjusting a blower to minimize an air flow in the HVAC module;
(d) detecting a mountain grade descent condition, the mountain grade descent condition including at least that the vehicle is traveling downhill;
(e) detecting a battery limit condition, the battery limit condition including the battery pack reaching an upper limit;
(f) if the mountain grade descent condition and the battery limit condition are detected, activating the cabin coolant heater, which is a part of a cabin heating branch that directs a coolant through the heater core in the HVAC module, to thereby accomplish an electric load shed; and
(g) if the mountain grade descent condition and the battery limit condition are detected, activating a fuel cell coolant heater to thereby increase the electric load shed.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coolant system and method of operating the coolant system for a vehicle having a battery pack is disclosed. A method may include detecting a mountain grade descent condition; detecting a battery limit condition; and, if the mountain grade descent condition and the battery limit condition are detected, activating a coolant heater and a coolant pump to thereby accomplish an electric load shed. A method may include detecting a fuel cell stack warm up condition; and, if the fuel cell stack warm up condition is detected, activating a fuel cell coolant heater, a cabin coolant heater and a pump, and directing a coolant flowing through the cabin coolant heater through the fuel cell coolant heater and through a fuel cell stack to thereby warm the fuel cell stack.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method of operating a coolant system for a vehicle having a fuel cell stack and a battery pack, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting a fuel cell stack warm up condition, the warm up condition being when the fuel cell stack is below a predetermined temperature range and is warming up; (b) if the fuel cell stack warm up condition is detected, activating a pump and a cabin coolant heater upstream from a heater core, which is located in a HVAC module, and directing a coolant flowing through the cabin coolant heater, through the heater core and through a fuel cell stack to thereby warm the fuel cell stack; (c) if the fuel cell stack warm up condition is detected, adjusting a blower to minimize an air flow in the HVAC module; (d) detecting a mountain grade descent condition, the mountain grade descent condition including at least that the vehicle is traveling downhill; (e) detecting a battery limit condition, the battery limit condition including the battery pack reaching an upper limit; (f) if the mountain grade descent condition and the battery limit condition are detected, activating the cabin coolant heater, which is a part of a cabin heating branch that directs a coolant through the heater core in the HVAC module, to thereby accomplish an electric load shed; and (g) if the mountain grade descent condition and the battery limit condition are detected, activating a fuel cell coolant heater to thereby increase the electric load shed. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of operating a coolant system for a vehicle having a fuel cell stack and a battery pack, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) detecting a fuel cell stack warm up condition, the warm up condition being when the fuel cell stack is below a predetermined temperature range and is warming up; (b) if the fuel cell stack warm up condition is detected, activating a pump and a cabin coolant heater upstream from a heater core, which is located in a HVAC module, and directing a coolant flowing through the cabin coolant heater, through the heater core and through a fuel cell stack to thereby warm the fuel cell stack; (c) if the fuel cell stack warm up condition is detected, adjusting a blower to minimize an air flow in the HVAC module; (d) detecting a mountain grade descent condition, the mountain grade descent condition including at least that the vehicle is traveling downhill; (e) detecting a battery limit condition, the battery limit condition including the battery pack reaching an upper limit; and (f) if the mountain grade descent condition and the battery limit condition are detected, activating a fuel cell coolant heater to thereby accomplish an electric load shed. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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Specification